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By JOSH MITCHELL

The jobless rate climbed in July in nine of 10 battleground states that could play a pivotal role in the presidential election, even though employers added workers in most of them.

The unemployment rates rose in Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, according to Labor Department data released Friday. The rate also increased very slightly, in Colorado and North Carolina, and held steady in Ohio, ending 11 months of declines there, the data show.

Nevada's 12% unemployment was highest among all 50 states. Michigan's rate hit 9% for the first time since January, and Florida's rate, now at 8.8%, increased for the first time in more than a year.

The state figures largely tracked the national jobless rate, which ticked up to 8.3% in July from 8.2% in June.

A rising unemployment rate typically reflects a weakening labor market. But the state increases in July resulted partly from more workers becoming hopeful enough to start looking for a job, increasing the size of the overall labor force.

Indeed, employers added jobs in all but three of the battleground states—Florida, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Some of the gains were small, but Michigan and Virginia both added more than 20,000 jobs last month, seasonally adjusted. That is the biggest monthly increase for Michigan since January 2011 and the largest for Virginia since the recovery began in mid-2009.

No issue looms larger in this year's presidential race than the health of the economy. President Barack Obama says he inherited an economy in crisis, which is healing slowly with the help of his policies. Mitt Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, say Mr. Obama's approach has failed and theirs would produce stronger growth and job gains.

The presidential election likely will hinge on voters in the 10 battleground states, who could be strongly influenced by local economic conditions, including income trends and the cost of living as well as unemployment. . However, some research suggests voters tend to attribute the quality of their state economy to state officials, while holding the president responsible for the national economy.

Lynn Turnley, a 51-year-old homemaker, attended a rally for Mr. Ryan in her hometown of Glen Allen, Va., Friday. Ms. Turnley said that Virginia's economy reflects strong state leadership, particularly Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, which she viewed as a contrast to President Obama's policies. "Virginia is a very fiscally conservative state," she said. "They're better at running the finances."

Polls show the presidential candidates in a tight race in Virginia, with Mr. Romney having nearly erased Mr. Obama's lead. According to a Real Clear Politics average of polls, Mr. Obama leads Mr. Romney among Virginia voters by 47.3% to 46.3%.

Employment gains in the Commonwealth last month was driven largely by new jobs in health care and education. In Michigan, strong sales of cars prompted some auto makers to skip their typical summer factory shutdowns, boosting payrolls there.

Employers in Ohio added 11,000 jobs in July. Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina also added jobs, though the gains in those states were smaller.

The presidential campaigns sparred Friday over whether the data showed an economy on the mend or in the muck.

Obama campaign spokesman Adam Fetcher said the administration's policies have helped businesses add 4.5 million jobs over the past 29 months and "will build the economy from the middle class out through targeted investments in education, research and development, and infrastructure."

Amanda Henneberg, a Romney campaign spokeswoman, noted that Friday's data showed that the unemployment rate rose in 44 states, and said the president's "policies have left the middle class struggling with higher unemployment, more debt, and smaller paychecks."